San Juan Mountains

viewed from Ridgway, Colorado • Note: This is only a partial list of important peaks in the San Juans, listing peaks by prominence only. There are dozens more summits over 12,000 feet. ==History of the area==

Human history at the eastern edge of the San Juan Mountains dates back thousands of years. Smithsonian archaeologists have identified paleo-Indian sites that are about 5,000 years old, located near Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and at the northern edge of the San Luis Valley, close to Poncha Pass. This suggests that early human presence in the region dates back to ancient times, long before the establishment of modern landmarks. In February 1874, the San Juan Mountains were the setting of a notorious survival incident when prospector Alfred Packer led five companions into the range’s rugged interior during a period of extreme winter weather. The group became stranded in the high-altitude terrain, and over time all members except Packer died. He later admitted to cannibalism. The event remains one of the most well-known pieces of regional lore and is commonly associated with an area now referred to as Cannibal Plateau. Mining operators in the San Juan mountain area formed the San Juan District Mining Association (SJDMA) in 1903, as a direct result of a Western Federation of Miners proposal to the Telluride Mining Association for the eight-hour day, which had been approved in a referendum by 72 percent of Colorado voters. The new association consolidated the power of thirty-six mining properties in San Miguel, Ouray, and San Juan counties. The SJDMA refused to consider any reduction in hours or increase in wages, helping to provoke a bitter strike. ==See also==